THE INIQUITIES OF NATIVE LAND AGENTS, ETC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9495, 26 April 1894, Page 3

THE INIQUITIES OF NATIVE LAND AGENTS, ETC.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Formerly it was the fashion to abuse the missionaries, Pakeha-Maoris, and the officers of the Native Department, in fact any person who had to prevent injustices being done to the natives, was deemed by many unthinking persons to bo hostile to the settlement of the country by Europeans. The Hon. Mr. Seddon has now taken up the cudgels against the native land agents, and in my opinion his assertions as to those gentlemen interfering with, or taking any steps to retard Government land purchases, are gross inaccuracies in matter of fact, and utterly unwarrantable, and I challenge him to substantiate any such charge."!. If the Government desire to purchase any block of land (never mind how large the area), the process of locking it up from competition by private speculators is exceedingly simple and effective. A payment of the sum of £1 to any native claiming to be an owner, and procuring his signature to an agreement to sell a certain block of laud to the Crown, is all that is requisite to enable the Government to issue a proclamation under the Government Native Land Purchase Act, declaring that the block in question is under negotiation for purchase by the Crown, the effect of which is that no person can deal for the land so proclaimed for a period of two years. At the expiration of that period the proclamation can be renewed for a further two years, and so on ad infinitum. Another advantage the Government have over private individuals is that the Crown can negotiate for the acquisition of lands, the title to which has not beep investigated or decided by the Native Lands Court. Any native agent or other person dealing for this class of land is liable to be fined a sum of £500, and any land acquired by him is forfeited to the Crown. I would now, with your permission, draw attention to some of the important services rendered to the colony by missionaries. Pakeha-Maoris, and officers of the Native Department, and where any of the latter are now acting as native agents will add that term to their names. Among the missionaries may be mentioned the late Bishop Williams of Waiapu, who gave the Government a great amount of reliable information relative to rebel intentions and movements during the Waikato and the East Coast wars. The Rev. Mr. Volkner who was brutually murdered at Opotiki, because he was known to have given information to the Government about hostile movements then on foot among the natives of his district. The late Rev. James Preece of Corotnandel, who gave valuable information and aid to the late Sir Donald McLean (then Chief Land Purchase Commissioner), which enabled the Government to make their first purchases (though small ones), and obtain their first foothold in the Thames district, which before that had been shut up against Europeans. The Kev. Mr. Whiteley frequently assisted the Government during the Taranaki war, and was subsequently murdered at the White Cliffs, Taranaki. I could relate many instances where the much despised Pakeha - Maoris have given valuable assistance and information to Government officers during the Maori wars and in relation to land purchase questions. It will be sufficient for my purpose to mention the action taken by the chief of the Pakeha-Maoris, the late Judge Mailing, at the time of .Heke's war at the Bay of Islands in 1845. Mr. Maning induced his wife's relations, among them the leading chief Tamati VVaka Nene, to take up arms against Heke, and ally themselves with the British forces. But for their timely aid and valuable services, the settlers would, in my opinion, have been ejected from New Zealand, as our first movements in that war were the reverse of successful; and but for the aid of Mailing's contingent would have been utterly disastrous, Te Rauparaha and Rangihaeata also being quite willing to do their part in ousting the Pakehas from Wanganui and Wellington, which they subsequently made «. fair attempt to accomplish. During the Waikato war Judge Mailing prevented some ill-disposed natives of the Nf/innhi tribe from joining the rebels. The next matter for consideration is the nature of special services rendered by officers of the Native Department, during the wars with the Maoris, viz :— Henry Tacy Clarke, interpreter to the forces during Heke's war, was shot through the thigh; subsequently was Civil Commissioner at Tauranga, and rendered material assistance during troublous times in that district Thomas Henry Smith, Civil Commissioner, Bay of Plenty, was mainly instrumental in inducing the Arawa tribe to ally themselves with the Government and fight against the East Coast rebels. Major Drummond Hay (deceased), led the Native at"' M~ateta7 £bt" quently fought against Te Kooti under Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell. Was interpreter to the forces in first Taranaki war. James Fulloon murdered by the na.tives at Whakataue, when sent there by the Government, to raise a [Native Contingent Force. William Broughton, interpreter to the forces, treacherously invited to enter a pa in the Taranaki district, under a pretence by the natives of a desire to make peace, when he was murdered in a brutal manner. Major William Mair served throughout the Waikato war as interpreter to the forces; had a narrow escape of being shot when parlying with the natives at Orakau, under & flag of truce; subsequently led a native contingent during the commencement of the East Coast campaign, where he captured a pa and took a number of prisoners; subsequently stationed as Resident Magistrate at Alexandra, where his influence with the king natives aided materially in keeping peace and order on the Waikato frontier. Richard Cotton Mainwaring (deceased) served throughout the Waikato war as one of the interpreters to the forces; accompanied Major Mair with the flag of truce at Orakau, and ran the same risk of being treacherously shot as that officer did. Captain Gilbert Mair fought during the East Coast campaign, and with Captain Preece was mainly instrumental in driving Te Kooti from the fastnesses of the Urewera country. Te Kooti personally informed the writer that Mair and Preece showed more skill in fighting and gave him more trouble than all the other forces which had been sent against him. Captain George A. Preece rendered similar services, and at the same time as Captain Mair. Lieutenant-Colonel Thos. McDonnell, now a native land agent, served during the Waikato war as one of the interpreters to the forces. First distinguished himself in company with the late Major Yon Tempsky, by lying in a swamp for two days reconnoitring the rebel position at Paparata, when numbers of Maoris were constantly passing and repassing their place of concealment. Subsequently commanded the forces engaged against the Taranaki West Coast

natives. Assisted in the operations against natives in the Opotiki district, and subsequently commanded a force detached to operate with others against Te Kooti. This officer was in more engagements than any other of the leaders of the Colonial forces. Captain William McDonnell, now a native land agent, served in the West Coast campaign, under his brother (Lieutenant - Colonel McDonnell), where he was severely injured, and rendered incapable of further active service. He receives a small pension. John Rogan was the first Native Land Purchase Officer who acquired land north of Waitara on the West Coast of this Island. Although not directly engaged in the Waikato war, he rendered very valuable assistance in restraining the Natives North of Auckland in joining the Waikato rebellion. George T. Wilkinson has been a native land agent, now a Government officer, served during the fighting in the neighbourhood of Opotiki, was one of a party of four who settled on land there. They all occupied one house for their mutual protection. On one occasion the natives surrounded the house; two of the occupants (Moore and Livingstone) were murdered; Wilkinson and another (forget his name) escaped, which, to say the least of it, was a very remarkable feat. Francis Edward Hamlin (deceased) served in the East Coast campaign, and afterwards rendered good service as Resident Magistrate and Native Officer in the Rotorua, Maketu district. Henry Martin Hamlin (deceased) was employed in the same service as his brother Francis Edwards. Captain Robert Parris was Commissioner and Government agent at the time of the Taranaki war, accompanied the Imperial and Colonial Forces on several occasions, and had some narrow escapes in visiting native settlements. Sir I Donald McLean, K.C.M.G. (deceased) was chiefly known from his inaugurating the system of Government native land purchase, which as a rule worked very successfully under his control. He, when agent for the General Government, and Superintendent of the province of Hawke's Bay, exercised a controlling influence over many of the resident natives, who otherwise would have been troublesome. On the outbreak of rebellion in the neighbourhood of Napier, the prompt measures taken by Sir Donald effectually repressed and stamped it out. A large number of natives were killed, any many taken prisoners, with but trifling loss on the European side. This, as far as I am aware, completes the list of officials of the Native Department who rendered efficient services during the various Maori wars. As far as I am aware, there &ve onlv four of them besides Captain William McDowell who receivo pensions. I next turn to Native agents who were not officers of the Native Department, but who rendered service during the wars. Major W. Brassey, now a Native land agent, served during the West Coast campaign. When besieged at Pipiriki, he dared not communicate his ; position to Sir George Grey in either English or Maori, for fear ef the

letter being intercepted, buthiaeftrly education / in the dead languages enabled him to send it in Latin. Major Ebenezer-Hamlin, now a native land agent, served in the fighting around the Waiuku and M&nukau districts under Captain Lloyd, and subsequently in' the Waikato campaign. Lieutenant Josiah Pratt Hamlin {3rd Waikato Regiment), now a native land agent, served in the sam« campaign as his brother Ebenezer. Frederick Schwartz Hamlin, now a native land agent, did not serve in any military capacity during the war, but frequently gave the Government valuable information respecting native movements. John Stevens, now a native land agent, served as a volunteer during part-of the Taranaki-West Coast war. Daniel B. McDonald served as a volunteer during the Taranaki War, At the time Mr. Todd, Government Surveyor, was murdered Mr. McDonald was living at Raglan, and the late Sir Donald McLean sent him on a very dangerous mission to Kawhia. It was at that time proposed to send H.M.s. Eclipse to Kawhia to bombard the settlements around that harbour, and it appeared desirable to ascertain what would be the outcome of such a proceeding. The result of Mr. McDonald's inquiries was that the Hauhau natives would, if any damage was done to them at Kawhia, form themselves into small marauding parties, and massacre the eutlying settlers, their wives and families. As the majority of the gentlemen I have mentioned are old comrades and intimate friends of mine, I felt very much aggrieved at the wanton and unfounded attack made on them by the Premier of the Colony, and as some of them may be directly or indirectly connected with th« Government, and cannot take their own parts, I who am free, can Bay a word on their behalf, as I feel assured that no men ever rendered more valuable services to the colony than they have done. This, of course, is known to the old settlers, who lived here in the troublous times. But there it now much young and new blood in New Zealand, and these'new-comers might perhaps taktf as gospel statements made by so influential a person as the Premier of the colony. If I have overlooked any of the officers of the Native Department, who performed military services, they must excuse the omission; and if they will communicate with me I will endeavour to rectify my shortcomings. Majors Scannell and Gudgeon and Captain Northcrott have since the war been connected with the Native Department. They all rendered good service during the war, but as they do not come exactly within the same < category as the other persons herein mentioned, it is not necessary to further allude to them.—l am, etc., James Mackay, A Native Land Agent. Auckland, 13th April, 1894.